Cerebral palsy sufferer seeks help from Teesside

Thomas Brawn and his mum Clare Persson who, along with nana Susan and brother Louis

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SEVERE cerebral palsy sufferer Thomas Brawn needs your help Teesside.

The seven-year-old Middlesbrough youngster suffered catastrophic oxygen starvation at birth and is totally dependent on his family’s care.

Thomas, of Kelvin Grove, Park End, also has epilepsy and is partially sighted – and his greatest love in life is for his mum Clare, 34, to take him outdoors.

Now determined Clare and his nana Susan Persson are fundraising to buy Thomas a £5,000 special cycle wheelchair bike. Thomas would ride in a special harness at the front and Clare, or Susan, would pedal the bike at the rear.

The hi-tech contraption is not unlike the bicycle rickshaws commonly seen in the Far East.

But for Thomas and his family, it would be a Godsend, enabling him to be taken out further afield, to visit parks or on shopping trips.

At present he is totally wheelchair-bound and his disabilities limit the distance he can travel. But with the new equipment, older brother Louis, 11, could ride along too on his bike.

Single mum and full-time carer Clare said: “Thomas is totally dependent and cannot speak, or feed himself, or walk or sit without support.

“He was born on October 1, 2005, at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

“His placenta broke away and he was starved of oxygen. He had to be born by caesarian section and there were many other complications after his birth.

“But he’s a real treasure. He knows we are about and knows all our voices.”

Thomas attends Ormesby’s Priory Woods special school.

Nana Susan said: “We’ve started fundraising for the new wheelchair bike, but it’s a lot of money to find.

“Local shops are selling prize fundraising cards for us and Clare is making jewellery, key rings and bracelets for sale to friends and family.

“But we would welcome help from anyone, or any sponsorship from Teesside firms, or fundraising events for our fund.”

The next big event is a sponsored bag pack at Asda South Bank from 10am to 4pm on November 24 via the Remembering Rebecca charity and there is also a cake sale via a friend.

Clare said: “We really need some extra help. Thomas loves being outside in all sorts of weather and this wheelchair bike would help us to do that. Hopefully we’ll get there – Thomas deserves it.”